Brake-lever strut or post.



0. H. WILLIAMS, JR. BRAKE LEVER STRUT OR POST.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1909.

956,249, Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

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art to which it appertains to .right hand beams when "UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. WILLIAMS, JR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGORAILWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

BRAKE-LEVER STRUT 0R POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

Application filed July 17, 1909. Serial No. 508,123.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. WIL- LIAMS, J r., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, Illinois, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Brake-Lever Struts or Posts, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enableothers skilled in the make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in WhichFigure l is a plan view of the strut. 2 is a side elevation of a brakelever of my improved construction, with the compression and tensionmembers of the brake beam shown in section. Fig. 3 is a cross sectiontaken on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly insection, of a modified form of the strut. Fig. 5 is a section taken onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6of Fig. strut Fig. 4:.

y invention relates to an improved brake lever strut particularlydesigned to permit its use in either right or left hand beams and topermit the adjustment of the brake lever pin hole forward and backwardin the strut to suit dilferent conditions and requirements.

In practice, by the use of my invention it is possible to reduce thestock of beams now generally carried at different railroad points, as myimproved beam will eliminate the presenttrouble at isolatedinterchangeand inspection points, of frequently having only a left handbeam is wanted, or vice versa, which makes it necessary to send cars tothe nearest car shop for repairs, or to hold the car for the proper eam.

My improved construction provides a strut which is adapted for universaluse in any truss beam, and therefore is of special value in shops wherevarious makes of cars are repaired. i

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive strut,the main body of which may be readily locked to any angle so as toaccommodate right or left hand brake levers, and said strut beingprovided with a plurality of apertures which receive the formed bers 6and 7, the main brake lever fulcrum pins, thereby providing for theadjustment of the brake lever longitudinally in the strut.

It is obvious that the construction employed for adjusting the brakelever pivot pin may be advantageously employed in the so-called solidbeams, or in struts which are not reversible.

To the above purposes, my invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed.

As shown in the drawings, the main body of my improved strut comprises apair of parallel side walls 1, which are preferably with longitudinallydisposed strengthening ribs. Formed through the central portions ofthese walls 1 is a plurality of pairs of apertures 2 which are adaptedto receive the brake lever pivot or fulcrum pin. Brake lever 3, of usualconstruction, occupies a posit-ion between the walls 1 and is pivoted orfulcrumed upon a pin 4 which is seated in any one of the pairs ofapertures 2. The construction just described provides simple meanswhereby the brake lever may be pivoted at different points of the strut,as is different conditions.

Formed integral with the ends of the walls 1 of the strut are studs 5,one of which is swiveled in a sleeve 6, which embraces the centralportion of the compression member of the brake beam, and the stud on theopposite end ofthe strut being swiveled in a block 7 which engages thecenter portion of the tension member of the beam. By thus swiveling theends of the strut in the membody portion of said strut carrying theadjustable brake lever is arranged so that it may be rocked in eitherdirection, thus changing the position of the brake lever and adapting itfor either right or left hand service.

In the modified construction shown in required to suit 'Figs. 4, 5 and6, the inner faces of the side walls 1 of the strut are provided withvertically disposed ribs or teeth 8, and removiably positioned betweenthe side walls 1 is a block 9, on the sides of which are formedvertically disposed ribs or teeth 10 which are adapted to interlock withthe teeth 8 when said block is positioned between the walls 1. The block9 is provided with a slot .or opening 11 which accommodates the brakelever, and formed through the sides of said block is a pair of apertures12 adapted to receive the pivot or fulcrum pin which also passes throughthe brake lever.

The construction just described provides simple means whereby the brakelever can be adjusted forward or backward in the strut, it beingunderstood, of course, that the brake lever and pivot pin are removed ina different position.

A brake lever strut of my improved construction is comparatively simple,comprises a minimum number of parts, is reversible to permit theshifting of the brake lever from one position to the other, and is soconstructed that said brake lever can be adjusted forward or backward inthe strut, as is required to suit different conditions.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the construction andform of my improved device can be made and substituted for those hereinshown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A brake lever strut having a pair of side walls through which isformed a series of pairs of brake lever pivot pin receiving apertures.

2. A reversible brake lever strut having a pair of side walls throughwhich is formed a series of pairs of brake lever pivot pin receivingapertures.

3. A brake lever strut having a pair of side walls through which isformed a series of pairs of brake lever pivot pin receiving apertures,and members swiveled on the ends of said strut and adapted to engage theends of the compression and tension members of a brake beam.

4:. A reversible brake lever strut having a pair of side walls throughwhich is formed a series of pairs of brake lever pivot pin receivingapertures, and members swiveled on the ends of said strut and adapted toengage the ends of the compression and tension members of a brake beam.

5. A brake lever strut comprising .a slotted body, there being aplurality of pairs of apertures formed through the walls of said slottedbody, and members swiveled on the ends of said slotted body and adaptedto engage the compression and tension members of a brake beam.

6. A brake lever strut comprising a slotted body constructed with aplurality of openings to adjustably receive a brake lever pivot pin, andmembers swiveled on the ends having parallel walls,

of said slotted body and adapted to engage the compression and tensionmembers of a brake beam. 7

7. A brake lever strut comprising a slotted body constructed with aplurality of openingsto adjust-ably receive a brakelever pivot pin,studs on the ends of said slotted body, and members loosely mounted onsaid studs and adapted to engage the compression and tension members ofa brake beam.

8. The combination with a slotted body, in the walls of which is formeda plurality of pairs of brake lever pivot pin receiving from the block 9to permit the same to be re 3 moved from the strut and reinsertedtherein apertures, and members swiveled tothe ends of said slotted bodyand adapted to engage the compression and tension members of a brakebeam.

9. A brake lever strut comprising a slotted body, a slotted pivot pinblock arranged in said slotted body, and the side faces of which pivotpin block interlock with the inside faces of the walls of the slottedbody, by transverse corrugations.

10. A brake lever strut comprising a slotted body, a slotted pivot pinblock arranged in said slotted body, the side faces of which pivot pinblock interlock with the inside faces of the walls of the slotted block,and members swiveled on the ends of the slotted block and engaging theends of the compression and tension members of a brake beam.

11. A brake lever strut comprising a slotted block, members swiveled onthe ends thereof and adapted to engage the compression and tensionmembers of a brake beam, a slotted brake lever pivot pin block ar-.ranged in the first-mentioned slotted block, and there beinginterlockingengagement between the side faces of said blocks.

12. A brake lever strut comprising a block having parallel which areprovided with vertically disposed teeth, a brake lever pivot pin blockarranged in the first-mentioned block between the walls thereof, andthere being teeth formed on the side faces of the pivot pin block 1which engage the teeth on the walls of the slotted block.

13. A brake lever strut comprising a block the inside faces of which areprovided with vertically disposed 1 teeth, a brake lever pivot pin blockarranged in the first-mentioned block between the walls thereof, therebeing teeth formed on the side faces of the pivot )in block which engagethe teeth on the wal s of the slotted 1 block, and members swiveled onthe ends of the first-mentioned block and adapted to engage thecompression and tension membersof a brake beam.

14:. A brake lever strut or post, having a block adjustably arrangedtherein, said block being slotted for the passage of the brake lever, abrake lever pin being inountwalls, the inside faces of 11 956,249 8 edin said block and preventing the dis- In testimony whereof I hereuntoaffix my placement of the block. signature in the presence of twoWitnesses, 10 15. A brake lever strut or post, compristhis 2nd day of July'1909. lng parallel Walls, an ad uStabIe lever CHARLES H WILLIAMS,JR.

5 mounting interlocking with said Walls in its adjusted positions, and abrake lever pin Witnesses: which prevents the displacement of said le-EDWARD T. WALKER, Ver mounting. M. F. HUNTOON.

